About Ticha and Koprova Valleys

In the center of the Tatra National Park on the Slovakia's border with Poland, there has been preserved one of the largest areas of true wilderness in Europe. Ticha (the Silent valley) and its smaller sister Koprova valley present a compact strictly protected area of 8,443 hectares (21,000 acres). Majestic peaks, deep virgin forests and… some 40 bears. Something unseen anywhere else in Europe. Today, however, this precious territory has to face a new threat!

A heavy windstorm in November 2004 has been followed by another, even more devastating surge. A new wave of pressure of man on nature. 93% of the 12,500 hectares hit by the wind, were devastated by inconsiderate harvesting of all fallen trees. The remaining 7% of the affected area lie in the strictest reserves, mainly in Ticha and Koprova valleys. This area became a symbol of the dispute between nature protection and its economic exploitation. A dispute whether the young nation will decide to leave at least a negligible piece of its country to nature, or will it enforce short-time economic interests everywhere and down to the last cent.

In Ticha we can observe the fascinating process in which a new forest is being born. A forest that is stronger and more varied, because it is natural. It regenerates as it did after countless previous windstorms - without man. Two and a half year after the windstorm, the affected areas sprout with thousands of tree seedlings. We don't have to worry about the future of the forest. Actually, more species live in windbreak ecosystems than in grown forests. Bears, wolves and many other mammals find save dens among the fallen trees, woodpeckers carve cavities in the dead trees, in which, subsequently, dozens of bird species can nest and sustain stability of this complex ecosystem. The fallen trees are home to hundreds of species of invertebrates, fungi and microorganisms, which turn the biomass into essential nutrients.